CubeSats: A Low-Cost, Very High-Return Space Technology

Abstract

Access to space is still largely limited to national governments, large corporations and those with the support of the aforementioned. Spacecraft design, development and launch costs are a barrier-to-entry for most that might be otherwise interested. This is a problem for everyone from would-be commercial craft operators to educators to hobbyists. There is a large community that wants to interact with space ‐ unfortunately, most of them don’t get the chance. While small satellite form factors, such as the CubeSat, have made access more attainable, it is still not within the reach of most companies, many universities and virtually all hobbyists. It is, however, a larger community that is required to drive the costs down and make space more universally accessible. The involvement of lower-cost launch providers, small and mid-size businesses, students, educators, hobbyists and others is precisely what is needed to start a downward spiral of costs and upward spiral of access. A comparison of the satellite and early computer industry shows how an expanded base of interested and involved individuals can dramatically increase access to space.